Tuesday, 11 August 2015

Beckie Evans: Parts Unknown

I’ve recently become a business owner.

This scares me.

All my working life I’ve chosen to work for others. Frankly,
that seemed a lot easier than doing something on my own. But time goes on and
circumstances happen and opportunities emerge and here I am, the owner of my
own music studio.

If ever there were a business for me to open, this would be
it. I’ve made somewhat of a living teaching piano since I was 17, so I know
what I’m doing. I’ve just never had to worry about generating students,
possibly disappointing teachers who come on board, and potentially falling on
my face.

I regularly give myself the big “risk” pep talk. But when
standing face to face with risk, it would be nice to have a cushy guaranteed
check in your bank account every two weeks. That’s a luxury I no longer have.

What I do have is opportunity. And I’m scared.

What if I’m not great at generating students? What if I
can’t retain them? What if I my new business doesn’t give me enough money to
feed my family or pay the bills?

I remember a sermon I heard 10 or so years ago. The pastor
said we don’t need to worry about finances because God owns the cattle on a
thousand hills and it’s up to him to supply what we need. I suppose. But it is
quite uncomfortable.

Maybe that’s it. I am uncomfortable. I want security and
stability. Instead, I have opportunity and risk. I want to be able to go to the
store and buy what I want for supper. Instead, I’ll probably need to keep
looking through the sale flyers. I want to know how I’m going to pay my bills
weeks in advance. Instead, I get to plan how I’m going to pay my bills weeks in
advance.

I still flirt with different employment websites, imagining
myself behind a desk, sipping on Starbucks, wearing my latest fashions I
purchased full price from The Bay.

Doesn’t God know I have more than enough character? I’ve
been through more in this lifetime than most people go through in 70+ years. I
like who I’ve become. But I really don’t need more challenges.

I feel like I’m at the checkout stand in the store of life
and God is behind the till, asking me if I’d like to make a donation to yet
another worthy cause.

No thanks, not today. The cost is too high.

But actually I don’t have much of a choice. Because here I
am. This is happening. I’m in labor, but instead of birthing a baby I’m
birthing a new career.

I’d much prefer one that’s safe, secure, and carries no
financial risk. It seems so nice, so
comfortable. I don’t understand why God doesn’t see things my way.

God just whispered something in my ear. And I laugh because
it’s true. He said, “If you had that life, you wouldn’t need me.”

True. I wouldn’t.

So instead of comfort and stability, I again walk hand in
hand to parts unknown with the creator of the universe. I don’t know what’s
around each bend and I don’t really know how to plan, but from what I recall,
he can probably plan for me. And when I phrase it like that it doesn’t seem so
bad.

1 comment:

as you once said to me, "you are funny"! You already have had lots of students, it doesn't matter whether you owned the "business", they came because they wanted YOU for their teacher. They will come. They will continue to come. God will bless you. I am asking God to bless you, so I know He will. ;-)